Page 55 of This Pack of Ours

TEN

KIT

We pulled up to the shop, parking the pack’s van. I froze when I saw the hunched figure leaning by the front door, tapping cigarette ashes onto the sidewalk.

Dread flooded down my back in an icy deluge.

“Um, what’s the date today?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“Fifteenth?” said Adrian, and I swallowed.

Shit.

I’d missed her birthday. Me and Juni had both set an avalanche of reminders, but I’d been puking my guts out when they went off, and I’d missed it.

My arm was heavy as I opened the passenger door and hopped out.

“Kristofer! There you are. I was just about to call you.” My grandmother flicked away the cigarette butt and came over, tapping her cheek.

“Hey grandmother,” I said, quickly pecking her cheek and trying not to choke on the cloud of tobacco smoke and perfume that clung to her. The smell was enough to make my anxiety skyrocket. I hadn’t seen her in two years, not since Dee’s funeral.

grandmother Esme turned to narrow her eyes at the three alphas following me out of the minivan. I shifted on my feet nervously. Her lips thinned as she looked Jhin and Adrian up and down. Vander, with his dyed hair, baggy clothes, and plugs, got a disdainful sniff.

“You’re Kit’s Grandmother?” asked Jhin politely. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jhin, and this is Adrian and Vander.”

“I see,” Esme said, lip curling. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment, and I shot them a grimace.

“Are you with this pack, Kit?” She turned her back on them, addressing me.

I nodded, too anxious to speak.

grandmother rolled her eyes.

“I suppose that’s why you forgot my birthday?”

“I’m sorry, grandmother, I was really sick—” I started, but she clicked her tongue and waved my apology off.

“There’s always an excuse, isn’t there, dear? Never mind. I’m here now, and you can treat me to dinner, hmm?”

“Yeah, of course,” I said, dread curdling my stomach. “Let me just?—”

“You’ve got your wallet, right dear? Then what else do you need? I’ll drive.” She took my arm and marched me over to the car.

“You okay, Kit?” asked Adrian, stepping towards us, concern on his face.

“Of course he is,” Esme said, glaring at me.

“Um, it’s okay,” I said, sweating, not wanting to make a scene. “I’ll see you guys later?”

She didn’t really have anyone else who remembered her birthday. And yes, I didn’t want to, but she should have someone in her life who cared about her, right?

I’d felt so guilty avoiding her these last few years, and it was probably about time I actually spent some time with her.

Surely it couldn’t be as awful as I remembered.

* * *

“I wasn’t surprised you forgot—but you’ve had three whole days to remember, and nothing?”

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